U20 New Zealand team, at the Official Welcome held at Aotea Square. Photo / Brett Phibbs
U20 New Zealand team, at the Official Welcome held at Aotea Square. Photo / Brett Phibbs
Mayor calls on fans to create white-out at North Harbour Stadium as Under-20 World Cup about to kick off
Festivities for the Fifa U-20 World Cup kicked off in Auckland yesterday, as the Junior All Whites were officially welcomed at Aotea Square.
About 200 people turned out to greet the New Zealand U-20 players, as well as coaches and officials from Fifa and New Zealand Football, who were welcomed by representatives of Ngati Whatua.
Despite periods of rain, eager fans joined the Auckland Girls' Grammar 1st XI football team and players from Western Springs Football Club in football activities in the square.
Auckland Mayor Len Brown welcomed players and officials, and said the Fifa tournament was "huge for the nation. Give it heaps."
A "keepy-uppy" tournament took place earlier in the afternoon while fans waited for the players to arrive, with a lucky few catching World Cup footballs as they were kicked into the crowd.
The NZ team are welcomed at Aotea Square. Photo / Brett Phibbs
U20 New Zealand team captain Bill Tuiloma. Photo / Brett Phibbs
Riley Hancock, at the event with his brother and parents, was excited about the upcoming World Cup games.
The 7-year-old, a member of Eastern Suburbs Football Club, said he was looking forward to seeing players from all around the world, "because they will be rising stars".
George and Harry Walker, members of Western Springs Football Club, have tickets to the final at North Harbour Stadium and hope New Zealand make it that far.
The brothers, who were decked out in their All Whites football kit, would be attending all but one game at North Harbour Stadium with their parents Ralph and Anna.
George, 8, was expecting football fever at their school, Maungawhau Primary in Mt Eden.
U20 FIFA World Cup fans (L-R) brothers Harry, 6, and George Walker, 8, at Aotea Square. Photo / Brett Phibbs
Mrs Walker said her boys had bought their tournament tickets the minute they went on sale, marking every day off on the calender ever since.
Harry, 6, had already made his mind up on who would win Saturday's opening game.
"Probably New Zealand, I think it's going to be 2-1," he said.
TAB Odds
New Zealand, Ghana, Austria and Ukraine are all paying $31 to lift the Cup. Hungary and Myanmar are paying the most at $101.
